Let us see some of the events that did not happen when Christ walked and preached throughout Jerusalem and Galilee. In the space of about 33 ½ years of earthly ministry, Jesus Christ was rejected as being the man called Wonderful, he was rejected as being the Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. He was so far fetched from peace, that in those short years, he was condemned to death and crucified. In fact all the disciples that were gathered unto him, died within the space of a hundred years. In about thirty seven years after Christ preached and foretold of the demise of Jerusalem, the temple and the Jewish economy, his words were fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the city, and the temple were reduced to ashes.

Thus, we could honestly say that Isiah 9: 6,7. is yet to be fulfilled in its totality. Listen to the words of another prophet! "Behold, the days come saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, the Lord our Righteousness." Jeremiah 23:5,6. Here is another prophecy much like the one above. "In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness." Jeremiah 33:15,16.

All Messianic prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, and we are given other prophecies that account from Christ and the apostles all the way down to where we are today. A quick glance at church history, especially dating from the 2^nd century, into the fourth and beyond, will show in stark details how the clergy manipulated church doctrines and actually over saw the demise of the Holy Spirit, thus handing over to man, those things that were designated to the workings of the Holy Ghost.

Yes, a child is born, and a son is given but without deviating to the right or to the left, we are faced with the fact that the government shall be upon his shoulder. This government does not allude to "local church government." The reference is toward the kingdom of God; but seemingly, the church has projected this event for a future time when Christ will spend a thousand year reign in Jerusalem. (Supposedly)

Let us step back and review all the details given by the angel Gabriel. It is plainly expressed that Jesus, soon to be born, will be given the throne of David his father, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. These are specific statements putting in language plain and distinct how the events will unfold. The narrative takes us further. "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age" came down to the river Jordan to be baptized by John. Luke 3:23. The fact that Jesus BEGAN TO BE THIRTY years of age, means he was just past his 29^th birthday. They counted the birth years at the beginning, while we count the birth year at the end, after we have already lived the year in question.

If we believe what the angel said, we are left with a wide scope of missing facts. Instead of Jesus growing up into manhood and taking steps to ascend unto the throne of David, he lived to be about 33 ½ years old and was crucified. As we said before in many writings, within the space of the first hundred years, all the disciples of Christ, including the original apostles all died. So, it would seem that we are left with some missing years, and years that seemingly, do not fit into the narrative given by the angel Gabriel. Yes! Jesus Christ was to ascend the throne of David to establish a kingdom that would last forever. But instead, he lived only a short 33-34 years. Did the angel miss something? Or are we missing a lot that authenticate the story and gives it meaning until this day?

Taking the discussion in the light in which it was given by Gabriel, we need to look elsewhere for confirmation and supporting facts that will underscore what the angel said. As we join Peter, preaching on the day of Pentecost, we are offered a bold explanation that substantiate the words of Gabriel, and in turn solves the missing years, or given the correct order in which the words of Gabriel should be understood. Peter explains how Jesus was supposed to ascend to the throne of David, and in so doing, Christ would do what David could not do in reality. Before joining Peter at Pentecost, let us put some building blocks in place concerning Christ upon the throne of David. Why has the church world, for the most part, placed the reign of Christ in the future that will last for a thousand years?

Here is how this concept was created by those who are die-hard "dispensationalists." The theory is based on the assumption that when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on "Palm Sunday" he could have been crowned King; but instead he was rejected and crucified. The theory goes, that at that point, God stopped the time clock for Israel and brought in the Church, which they claim the old testament prophets knew nothing about. This assumption is called "The Great Parenthesis." At the end of this special period, which should be the 69^th week of Daniel’s 70- week prophecy. The church will then be Raptured making way for the anti-Christ to appear, who will promptly offer 7 years of peace to the Jews. But in the middle of the week, or 3 ½ years he will brake his promise, and initiate the great tribulation. These concepts are well known by writers such as those behind the "Left Behind Series" and most writers out of the Moody Bible Institute. There is an in-depth study of Daniel’s 70- week prophecy elsewhere on my website.

As we have seen above, most of the Messianic prophecies in the old testament did not function the way they were written. From one perspective, it would seem that they all failed; they did not fail—we simply have their time frame out of place. Here is the big question that we will now address. Was Jesus to ascend the throne of David upon his return to earth for his thousand-year reign, or at some other time? What Peter preached at Pentecost leaves no doubt as to what was prophesied to happen, being substantiated by prophecies that were hundreds of years old. He began his sermon by addressing the subject of Christ and his relationship to the throne of David. It is so profound that I wish I was there in person to hear the dynamics in person. Listen to the apostle delivering the first sermon of the New Testament Church!

"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins according to the flesh he would raise up Christ, to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the RESURRECTION of Christ (Not his second coming as many would have us believe.) For David hath not ascended into the heavens (but Jesus has) but he saith himself, The Lord saith unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand (upon the throne of David) until I make thy foes thy footstool." Acts 2:29-35. Thus, the message of Peter should rid us of the notion that Christ must return to Jerusalem to sit on David’s throne.

As a matter of fact, let us explain the concept of "David’s throne." Did he actually have an earthly throne that was his own? From which he reigned as supreme? Or was his throne a symbol or type of God’s heavenly throne? Speaking of the tabernacle in the wilderness, we are told: "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. Which was a figure (a type) for the time then present." Hebrews 9:8,9. But let us define the so-called "throne of David." Since the tabernacle was a type of the Holy Spirit for that time, so is David’s throne.

Notice carefully the language used and the contents of the narrative. "Then Solomon sat on the THRONE OF THE LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him." 1^st Chronicles 29:23. So Solomon did not sit on David’s throne—he sat on the throne of the Lord. And again, we read: "Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee ON HIS THRONE, to be king for the Lord thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice." 2^nd Chronicles 9:8. From this point on, we should have no remaining doubt about the true nature and reality of David’s throne, which was an outward display upon the earth, the dictates of God’s heavenly throne.

One of the most confusing aspects of studying biblical truths, is our knowledge (or the lack of it) in understanding of the timing that God places against pending events. He mentioned the seed of the woman that would bruise the serpent’s head; but it took more than four thousand years for its fulfillment. Peter’s logic in his sermon was that David hath not ascended into heaven, but Jesus has, and as we read, Christ was to sit at the right hand of the Father until all his foes be made his footstool. We are given a candid account of this event as follows: "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering often times the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth (from where he is seated) expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." Hebrews 10: 11-13.

We have heard over the years and continue to hear preachers say that Jesus could return before this sermon is over. With all due respect, I object to that notion, because we are given a candid account as to one particular sign before his coming.

I like Peter’s account in this passage of scripture. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord: And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive (hold, or detain) until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.." Acts 3: 19-21.

So, to break it down further, the Lord will not—cannot return before the restitution of all things. Paul was very clear in his letter, when he stated: "For he must reign, till he hath put all things under his feet." 1^st Corinthians 15:25. In other words, Christ must reign from where he is seated on God‘s right hand till all things are put under his feet. But between now and then, many of the prophecies from olden times will be fulfilled before our very eyes. Will his kingdom come?

After John was cast into prison, Jesus came from the mount of temptation and entered into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. John’s message and baptism were unto repentance, pointing to him who was to come. Christ’s message was simple but factual. Jesus came preaching, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of heaven is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel…that is, the gospel of the kingdom of God. Mark 1:14, 15.

But it is curious for us to know what time was fulfilled that Jesus referred to. Up to this point in time, Jesus made no attempt to launch his personal earthly ministry. At his baptism a short while ago by John, the Spirit anointed him in the form of a dove, and it was that anointing that sealed him as the Messiah. Unknown by many, but embraced by quite a crowd, this marked the 69 weeks of Daniel’s 70-week prophecy. Of course, this presents a mountain of difficulties for those embedded in dispensational teachings. Why? Because that school of thought teaches that the Rapture will occur at the 69^th week; and while the church is having the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven, the 7-year tribulation will begin, which, in essence is touted to be a period of seven and one half years.

When we think of the fact that Isaiah spoke about the birth of Christ more than 700 years before the event occurred, we should not be alarmed by the lapsing years on our Christian calendar. One of my favorite scriptures is this: "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:9. While it seems as if the entire world is spinning off its axis and mankind is gone wild, God’s desire for his creation will not fail to yield his fruits of righteousness. God has expressed his desires and intentions that we should not ignore the records that he made of himself.

One of the reasons why Jesus Christ was such a dynamic teacher, was because he used simply, natural things, such as the birds, the flowers, the times and the seasons, with which ordinary people could relate. This is what we call "the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ." Paul was so conscious of this aspect of the gospel that he wrote: "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." 1^st Corinthians 2:4,5. In that he speaks every day, is reflected in scripture: "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." Hebrews 3:7,8. One of the assurances we are given by the Lord is found in the following scripture: "Surely the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7. That is because the Lord will not leave himself without a witness—in fact, out of the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.

I like this rendition offered by the Phillip’s translation: "The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own. The world of creation cannot as yet see reality, not because it chooses to be blind, but because in God’s purpose it has been so limited—yet it has been given hope. And the hope is that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay and have its share in the magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God." As one preacher said in his London crusade some years ago: "The world is yet to see the greatest event ever to take place among men. (Of course, he meant the Rapture of the church—not the unveiling of the sons of God for which the creation is groaning.

Royce O. Kennedy